Car-coupling.



No. 799,399. Patented my |902.

J. B. GENIN.

CAR COUPLING.

(gpplication tiled Apr. 29, 1902. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet Guo/mam 'Nn. 703,399. Patented .luly I, |902. J. B. GENIN.

CAR COUPLING.

(Application led Apr. 29, 1902.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-$heet 2.

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M 7gg ation/mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEAN BAPTISTE GENIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 703,899, dated July 1, 1902.

llppiicaiontied April 29, 1902.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEAN BAPTISTE GENIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has for its object `to provide an automatic car-coupling thatwill be both strong and durable, effective, and certain in its action in coupling or uncoupling the cars; and it consists in a coupling constructed substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure l of the drawings represents a top plan view of a car-coupling, partly in section and constructed in accordance with my invention, the two coupling-heads being shown as coupled; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the two coupling-heads uncoupled and separated; Fig. 3, a transverse section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l, showing the latch and latch-key in alocked position; Fig. 4, a similar View taken on line 4 Al of Fig. 2, showing the latch and latch-key in an unlocked position. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2, showing the parts in a locked position. Fig. 6 is adetail perspective view of the latch. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the latch-key; Fig. 8, a detail top plan View of the knuckle; Fig. 9, a side elevation of the knuckle; Fig. lO, a reverse side elevation thereof.

In the accompanying'drawings the hollow coupling-heads B are adapted to be secured to the usual car-sills A through the medium` of the draw-bars B. At oneside and the forward end of the coupling-heads B is a vertical pivot-bearing b for a knuckle C, which knuckleissecured by the pivot-pin C,as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This knuckle C consists of a peculiarly-curved double lever, as shown more clearly in Fig." 8 of the drawings, one end of which serves as a couplinghook c', and the opposite end is adapted to project within the cavity of the head and has a nose e2 of a reduced depth to serve as a stop.

The shape and curve of the knuckle C is such that when it is in its locked position the Serla1No.15,19Z. (No model.)

projects somewhat forward of the pivot-pin C and also across and a little beyond the center line of the draw-bar, said lateral projection being sufficient to engagel and interlock with its counterpart-that is, the hook of the knuckle in the opposite headas shown in Fig. l of the drawings. In this position the knuckle is locked by a latch D, interposed between the tail end c2 and suitable abutments formed in the head, and consists of `a short bar or block placed longitudinally inthe cavity of the head B and bearing against vertical slideways o' at the front and rear of the head', on which it may slide up and down, as maybe required, and forming a firm abutment against lateral strain and being prevented from longitudinal movement by a vertical bar D between the guide-lugs cl d and further steadied in its movement when in an elevated position by a short bar D2, depending from the top of the head.

`The latch D is rectangular in cross-section and so proportioned and the rear end c2 of the knuckle so curved that when the hookc' is in position to engage and retain its counterpart the end c2 of the knuckle within the cavity of the head will abut on the side of the latch, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings and also in the upper part of Fig-2 of the drawings, and a pull on the hook c' presses the latch D by the end c2 against the bearing-surfaces or slideways b.

ItV willbe seen that the latch D blocks the way of the end c2 of the knuckle and prevents it swinging forward, as it must do so if the hook c' is to swing outwardly, the end c2 at its nose or extremity being made of reduced depth or thickness, so that it may pass under the latch D as the latter is raised; This latter operation is effected by the latch-key E, which key consists of a wedge-nosed block running in a transverse groove b2 atthe bottom of the head and being provided with a lug e, which projects through a slot in the groove and is coupled to a rod F,-which rod extends along the end sill A to or near the side of the car, being held slidingly in suitable bearings a thereon and terminating ina handle f. l

The wedge-nose e' of the latch-key engages a beveled notch fl' in the latch and if drawn IOO under said latch will raise it bodily, and thus disengage the end c2 of the knuckle, a spur e2 on the latch-key E engaging said end of the knuckle and throwing the same forward, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings.

The hook ends c of the knuckles C are made of about the same depth or thickness as the. face of the heads B, but are slotted out at the ends to permit of the insertion, in case of emergencies, of a link or other connectingpiece into the slots 2 and are provided with vertical perforations 3 to permit the insertion of a coupling-pin, if desired.

It will be observed that if the knuckle is in the normal or locked position, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3 of the drawings, audit-is desired to unlock it the rod F is drawn forward, which will move the latch-key E and draw the same transversely under the latch D, raising the latter and clearing the way for the end c2 oftheknuckle. In its continuous movement the latch-key E strikes the end c2 with the spur e2, swinging the knuckle out, if this action has not already been effected by a strain on the latter.

For coupling one knuckle must be open when the hook end c of the closed knuckle abutting with its offset shoulder c3 against the shoulder b3 strikes the heel of the end c2, said end striking the spur e2 and retracting the latch-key E, thus dropping the latch D. The latch-key may, however, be pushed back by the rod F previous to the operation of coupling, when the latch D will rest on the top of the end c2 and drop as soon as the latter. passes.

It is evident that many changes or modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the principle of the invention, and any such changes as would come within ordinary mechanical construction may be resorted to without in any manner effecting the essential features of the coupling.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a car-coupling, the combination with a coupling-head having a vertical pivot-bearing at one side of its face, a knuckle pivoted in said bearing, one curved end thereof projecting forward and laterally across the center line of the draw-bar and shaped to engage and interlockV with its counterpart on an opposite head and the tail end of reduced depth projecting within the cavity of the heada latch placed longitudinally within the cavity of the coupler-head and having a vertical movement therein bearing against abutments forming slideways and held in suitable guides and forming in its normal position a block between said abutment and the tail end of the knuckle but clearing it when raised, a latch-key'placed transversely to said latch on the bottom of the head andhaving a wedgeshaped nose engaging a beveled notch in said latch and lifting the latter when drawn toward it, and provided with a lug projecting through. a slot in the bottom of the head and a rod coupled'to said latch-key lug and held in guides secured to the car-sill, by which said latch-key may be moved forward and backward, substantially as set forth.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination with a hollowcoupling-head closed at one side and having a bearing for a vertical pivot-joint at the other, a knuckle pivoted in said bearing to have a limited horizontal swing and having one part projecting beyond the face of the head and adapted to engage and interlock its counterpart on an oppositehead, and the tail end projecting into the cavity of the head and being of reduced depth, a latch normally interposed between said tail end and an abutment on which it may slide vertically, guide-lugs on said latch, a vertical guide-bar engaged by said lugs, and a beveled notch in one of the lower edges of said latch, a latchkey placed transversely to said latch in a groove at the bottom of the head and having a wedge-nose engaging said bevel-notch, and a spur adapted to engage the nose of the tail end of the knuckle and provided with a lug projecting below the bottom of the head, and a rod coupled to said lug and held slidingly in guides on the car-sill and adapted to move said latch-key, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in thepresence of two witnesses.

JEAN BAPTISTE GENIN.

Vitnesses:

T. H. YEAGER, JOHN E. BURcH. 

